Apparatus for sizing tubing



Feb 12, 1952 R. l. HAHN ETAL APPARATUS FR SIZING TUBING 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 30, 1948 Ank S Nw Feb. 12, 1952 R. l. HAHN ETAL APPARATUS F'OR SIZING TUBING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1948 m, @au

INVENTORS VM/ M BY Feb. 12, 1952 R HAHN ET AL APPARATUS FOR SIZINGl TUBING Filed oct. 30, 1948 4 sheets-Sheet 3.

'IN V EN TORS W @JMW M BY 6m-MKM Feb 12, 1952 R. l. HAHN ETAL APPARATUS FOR SIZING TUBING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 30. 1948 WQLU EM@ |l l! iL Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATS# 2,585,459 y, APPARATUS Fon sizINGf TUBING Reali'.v Hahn, and-v Bernard E. Frank, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to General Motors Corporation,Y Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 30, 1948', SerialfNo. 57,483-

Y 3 Claims. l This invention relates to the manufacturev of tubing.

Its object is tovprovide apparatus for sizing theV inside and outside diameter of an end portion- Figs; 3 and-'.4 togethershow az. side Viewv of *one of thev magazines; and. a sectional. 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary, side view; of. the: magav-iew on. line.

zines, looking; in'` the direction of. arrow 5. of'

Fig. 3.

6 isy a sectional view on the' line 6 6. of Fig.. 5.

Fig. 7 isafragmentary, plan View' ofY the magazines, looking in the direction of arrow 'li of Fig; 3i

Fig. 8 is a View in the1directionofarrow8` of Fig. 3.

Figs. 9 and 10 are longitudinal, sectional views ofthe sizingV die in' its holder in two different positions relative to the tubing.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of a sizing die.

Fig. 12 is` an hydraulic diagram.

A base 2S! supports a cylinder2l containing a pistonv attached to a rod 22. Brackets' 23 and screws 2li.` secure the cylinder to the base. The rodis.- connected with sizing die units Lland 25B', each of- Which comprises` ashell 2t (Fig. 9) threadedly connected with the rod. 2l. and suppor-ting a block 2.1. whichsup-ports the sizing die 28, said parts 2.1 and 28. being retained by a cap 29.. As shown` in. Figs. 10 and.11,.the.die. 28 has a cylindrical wall 3!! merging with a slightly tapered wall 3l, which merges'witnav wall 3.2 of greater taper.. The wall 39j receives a pin. 33 having a portion. 34 of. lesser diameter which determines the inside of the tubing which is' swaged by the die 28 against the portion 34. Pin 33 has a larger diameter which slides in the bore 3-'5 of shell 26 anda portion. 3.1 surrounded by a. spring 38 which, as shown in Fig.' 9; is. located between the rod 2| and. ashould'er of` pin 33 and normally urges the pin into. the position shown in Fig'. 9 so that the' portion-34 extends `beyond the cap 29.. While the tubing T remains fixed,

the unity 25HV (Fi-g. 9.). moves from the position-4 shown inFig.. 9` to th-atshown in Fig.. 1.0.V During. this movement, the. shoulder 36in',r of pin. 3.3r

first engages the tubingv androd. 33. stops movingtowardthe right.V As the4 die 23 movestowardl the right, its surfaces 3.2A and. 3L successively enga-ge the tubing. andl cause it. toV be-squeezed. around. theportion. 1M,y as. shown. in Fig.. 10,. thereby sizingI the inside and outside diameters of tl'iatfportionV of the tubing between the portion 34 and the cylindrical wall 3B oi die 28.. During motion of unit. 25B. from the position. shown. in Fig. 10 to that shown in. Fig. 9,` thedie 28 moves tothe i left relative to. the pin 33 and` the shoulder 3miV scrapes. from. the die 23 any small particles of metal which came offl from. the tubing T duringl the swaging operation. Thespring 38-restores the pin 33. to. its normalposition, relative to thedie28.

The pieces. of. tubing. whichr are operated. upon are placed in a magazine 4.0. which. comprises strips 41,. 42. and. Q3 attached. together. by screws lifi. thereby providing channelswhich. receive the tubing, as represented. by dot-dash lines in Fig... 6. These. channels are held in spacedrelation` by bars.- 45. (Fig.4) i213. (Fig. 3). anda frame. 4l. which has an inclined` plateV 48,; aA horizontal` platev` 33 andastiffening rib. 50. At their upper ends, the. plates ill support-plates. 5|v which. servefas guides` to. direct tubing. 'I' into. the. channels. providedA by plates` M, :1.2. andJi3.. Referring toFig. 3.,y base 2G supports a plate 6B. attached.: by screws. Eil.. Screws. 62. attach4 toA plate 6.3. a. guide. block. 63 which together with a gib provideswaysfor guiding. a. slide 65. Gib 542 is provided with-V enlarged holes 66 for receiving. screws 6?!! which, on being loosened,. permit. adjustment of the. gib. 54 by screws. 68g secured.v in. adjustedpositionby nuts. 6.9L. Slide.\G5-is. connected with. rod 'HL connected; withI a piston, not.`

shown, in a cylinder 'HBL pivotally supported. by a screw 'l2 fastenedto abracletv 'I3 which screws 'M attach to. the plate. 2&1. The block 63 has tapped holes 'l5 for receiving screws,.not shown, which. pass through holes.- 15a in bracket plate 49thereby securing the magazine 40. to the block t3.Y In. order that thev headofscrews 61 will be accessible without removing thebracket Mlffrom the block. 63', the plate 49 is provided with open.- ings 16; Y

While the' slide 5.5 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the lowermost tubingl in the magazine de-. L

scends into. the notch 8E) provided in a plate'8l attached to' slide 65. The tubing is retained in the notch "by" a sharpledged insertl plate 8'2" attached to plate 8|. When the slide 55 moves right from the position shown in Fig. 3 (position of left slide 65, Fig. 1) to the position corresponding to that occupied by the right slide 65 (Fig. 1) the tubing T is carried to the position represented by dot-dash circle T (Fig. 3) which places it in alignment with the sizing unit 25L. In this position, the tubing T is clamped between the plate 3| and a plate 9| secured to a block 9|) attached by screws 92 to plate 60. While the slide 65 ls advanced to the block 9B (position of right slide 65, Fig. l.)v the sizing unit 25L moves left to perform the swaging operation shown in Fig. l0. During the swaging operation, the tubing T engages a stop screw 93 supported by bracket 94 and secured in adjusted position by lock nut 55. Screws 9S attach bracket 94 to base 20. After the swaging operation performed on a piece of tubing on the left side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1 and following the advancement of a piece of tubing at the right side of the machine into position for swaying. the pir-ton rod 22 moves right to move the left unit 25L away from the left piece of tubing T and the right unit 25H. against the right piece of tubing. Thereafter the left slide 65 returns to the position shown in Fig. 3 but the tubing does not move with it because it is caught by levers pivotally supported on screws |04 threaded into block 3|! and provided with notches |02 which receive thetubing and prevent its mOvement with the slide 65 as the latter returns to receiving another piece of tubing from the magazine. After the plate 8| moves from under the tubing. the tubing gravitates through the openings |03 and |44 in plate 6B and base respectivelv. The levers |23 are normally located against pins |26 by springs |07 which, as shown in Fig. 8. connectstuds |59 on levers |00 with storie H0 attached to block 9U.

Referring to Fig. 12, the pistons in the cylinders 'IDL and 'IBR and 2| are operated hydraulically by pressure fluid which a pump |29 operated by motor |2| draws from a tank |22 through a filter |23 and an inlet pipe |24 and forces it through pipe to the inlets of valves VI, V2 and V3, each havingr a discharge or a drain pipe d connected with the tank by pipes not shown. Each of the valves are connected with a cylinder by two pipes and are controlled by compressed air which passes through circuits represented by dash lines. The inlet |30 is connected by manually controlled valve i3! with line |32 connected with valves |33, |35. 135, ifm. 131 and |33. Valves |35 and |38 are connected with two manually controlled valves |33 and |40. respectively. connected with pipes 14| and |42, respectively. connected with air cylinders in the left end and right end, respectively, of valves V2 and Vl. Valves |34 and |31 are connected by pipes |43 and |44, respectively, with air cylinders in the left end and right end, respectively, of valve V3. Valves |33 and |36, respectively, are connected by pipes and |48, respectively, with air cylinders in the left end and right end, respectively. of valves VI and V2.

'Assume that the cycle starts with a forward movement of piston rod 'HL which is downward as viewed in Fig. l2, said movement being indicated by arrow This movement of rod 1|L eifects feeding of stock toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 and the clamping of it between the jaws 8| and 9|. At the end of this movement of rod HL, a lug |50, moving with that rod, operates valve 34 to cause pressure fluid to enter the left air cylinder of valve V3 and to condition this valve for passage of pressure fluid to the right 4 end of cylinder 2| so that the rod 22 will move left as indicated by arrow 2. of rod 22 eiiects the sizing operation on the piece of tubing at the left side of the machine; and, during this movement, a lug |5| moving with rod 22, operates on valve |35 to cause it to pass compressed air to the air cylinder in the left end of valve V2, thereby conditioning the said valve for passage of hydraulic uid to the front end ate valve |31 to eilect admission of compressed i 5 to eect the sizing operation of the tubing at the right side of the machine and to cause a lug |53, moving with the rod 22, to operate valve |38 to cause the admission of compressed air to the air cylinder in the right end of valve V| which so conditions valve V| that hydraulic iiuid is admitted to the forward end (lower in Fig. 12) of cylinder ilL, thereby causing rod IL to move up as indicated by arrow 6, to retract the tube clamping and feeding means preparatory to the next operation and to cause lug |50, moving with rod HL, to operate valve |33 to eiect admission of compressed air to the air cylinder in the left end of valve V| which conditions it for admission of hydraulic iiuid to the rear end (upper in Fig. 12) of cylinder TBL; and the cycle is repeated as before. The cycle can be stopped by closing valve |3| and it will be resumed again when valve |3| is opened.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. Apparatus for sizing tubing comprising a sizing die unit-'comprising a shell, a die having a hole therethrough dened by a cylindrical wall merging with a conical wall flaring outwardly,

I a pin supported by the die and movable there with, said pin having a cylindrical portion i'itting within the cylindrical wall portion of the die, said cylindrical portion terminating at an annular shoulder, said pin having a cylindrical portion of smaller diameter extending from the annular shoulder, the largest inside diameter of the conical wall portion being greater than the outside diameter of the tubing, the inside diameter of the cylindrical wall portion being less than the outside diameter of the tubing and the diameter of the second cylindrical portion of the pin being less than the inside diameter of the tubing, a spring engaging the pin and normally maintaining the pin in a position such that the shoulder of the pin is located adjacent to the face of the die and the portion of smaller diameter is in the front of the die, means for supporting the tubing in alignment with the pin, and means for eifecting relative axial movement in one direction between the die unit and the tubing to cause engagement of the end of the tubing lirst with the annual shoulder ci the pin and then relative This movement axial movement between the pin and tubing together and the die, whereby the tubing is swaged between the cylindrical wall portion of the die and the second cylindrical portion of the pin, and for effecting relative axial movement in the opposite direction between the die unit and the tubing to effect release of the tubing from the die and to permit the return of the pin to normal position by said spring, said annular shoulder then operating to scrape from the die metal particles which had been dislodged from the tubing during the swaging operation.

2. Apparatus for sizing tubing comprising an hydraulic servo having -a horizontal cylinder, a piston and a piston rod extending throughthe cylinder, sizing dies attached, respectively, to the ends of the rod, devices for clamping pieces of tubing in alignment with the dies, each device comprising a fixed jaw 1nd a jaw movable into clamping position from a loading position, stops respectively for engaging ends of the tubing remote from the sizing dies when the tubing is clamped in alignment therewith, two magazines, each adapted to contain a stack of horizontally disposed pieces of tubing and each disposed adjacent a loading position so that the lowermost piece of tubing is received by the movable jaw when in its loading position, hydraulic servos each including cylinders and pistons connected with a movable jaw, a pressure fluid source, Valves connected with the source for distribution of pressure fluid to the ends of the cylinders, and means under control by the servo pistons for controlling the valves to eiect in sequence the feeding of a piece of tubing from one magazine and the clamping and sizing thereof and the feeding of a piece of tubing from the other magazine and the clamping and sizing thereof.

3. Apparatus for sizing tubing comprising a magazine for containing a stack of horizontally disposed pieces or tubing, `a horizontally movable sizing die, means for clamping a piece of tubing in alignment with the die and comprising a xed J'aw and a second jaw movable from a position under the stack in the magazine where said movable jaw can receive the lowermost piece of tubing in the stack to a position to ciamp the piece of tubing between itself and the fixed jaw, a pivotally supported lever having its free end portion located for engagement by the piece of tubing as it is moved by the movable jaw from the magazine to the ixed jaw, said lever being engaged by the piece of tubing during the movement of said tubing to the clamping position so that the lever is cammed upwardly and having a notch on its lov/'er edge which hcaks over the tubing when the latter is clamped bcrveen the clamping jaws, said notch preventing movement of the tubing with the movable jaw when the latter is retracted, means for retracting the movable jaw when the sizing operation is completed to permit the tubing to drop from its position engaging the notch and xed jaw, and a stop for engaging the end of the tubing remote from the sizing die.

REA I. HAHN. BERNARD E. FRANK.

REFERENCES CITED following references are of record in the file of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,800,526 Higgins et al. Apr. 14, 1931 2,387,698 Yost Oct. 23, 1945 

